Into the Dark
5

Calypso pulls the silky robe closer around her body in an attempt to hide herself from the servants who brush her hair and fix her makeup. She soon replaces this is a much more difficult task than she originally thought considering the robe barely brushes the bottom of her butt when it is hanging loose. No to mention that one of the servants ripped the rope out from it and cut the loops off after telling her to stop tying it closed for the third time. Apparently the King is not the only one who does not like repeating himself.

One of the older servants, her personal servant, eyes her chest again while shaking her head. The same servant who, only moments earlier, had cupped Calypso’s breasts in an attempt to push them together to make them appear bigger. Apparently Calypso ‘was far too flat’ and was order to eat more to maintain what little curves she has. She and her personal servant will get along just fine.

Calypso’s request to have her hair put up is repeatedly denied. Evidently, it is easier for the men to track the women if their hair is down. It makes their scent carry stronger in the wind. Though no one has directly told her what occurs during the hunt, she can now guess what is in store for her.

The servants blindfold her ignoring her protests and lead her out of the castle. The lush grass tickles the tops of her toes and the smell of the night calms her racing heart. She replaces herself glad they allowed her switch her heels out for sandals though the fact that the straps wrap up her calf will make it harder for her to run.

If her husband thinks she is going down without a fight he is sorely mistaken.

The servants stop her and face her in the direction they desire before removing her blindfold. She waits for them to retreat before taking in her surroundings. She is standing in the middle of a line of human women. It looks like there are five on her left and five on her right. All of them dressed in the same attire as hers except their’s is white instead of black. They all stand facing the dark forest a few feet in front of them.

She hears movement from behind and slowly turns taking in men dressed in nothing but white pants a few feet behind the women. Each man seems to be placed directly behind a woman whom their eyes do not leave. Some pace back and forth as they stare at the women’s back. Everyone’s mask appears to be gone allowing their bare faces to be viewed.

Calypso looks directly behind her to see the King pacing behind her clad in silk black pants. His bare chest catches her attention first. The lines of his muscles prominent as he paces back and forth; heat shoots to her core at the erotic sight, feeling like his prey. She realizes too late that he can more than likely see her scanning his body. Her eyes jump to his face which is cast in shadows. He stops directly behind her allowing her to see that his mask is also gone though she cannot see his eyes. Darkness covers his upper face; only his nose and lips are visible. The latter of which is pulled back into a wicked smile that promises nothing but mischief. His fangs flash in the dim fire light as his wild smile grows.

She turns back around as she attempts to calm her racing heart which she has no doubt he can hear. She replaces herself analyzing the women to her right. All of them bear a mark on the left side of their necks matching the one on hers. These human women must be mated to the men who are behind them.

A man strolls out of the woods in front of them,” Listen up ladies because I will only say this once. After I blow this horn, you will have five minutes to run. Following the passing of the five minutes, the men will chase after you. The second horn will let you know that time is up and the Hunt will begin. Good luck.”

He counts to three and then press down on the airhorn he is holding. The women standing in the line immediately sprint into the trees and after a moment of hesitation Calypso follows them. The irony of the fact that she was doing this exact thing only days before makes her wonder if her father was faking his surprise when he heard of the Hunt. Though she cannot understand why her husband would attempt to kill her after only being married to her for a few hours.

She is deep into the forest before she hears the second horn sound at a far distance. How that man expects her husband to catch up to her from this far eludes her.

She hears a woman scream behind her and a bit to her right. She sprints towards that direction in fear of another woman’s life. Slowing only as she approaches the source of the sound. One of the men has a woman against the trunk of a tree. His left hand has her arms held above her head while the other slowly travels down her body. Calypso feels a blush crawling up her neck to her cheeks. Tearing her eyes away from the woman’s face, she spots something shinny on the man’s belt; a silver knife. Slowly creeping forward, she is grateful that all his attention seems to be on the woman pinned against him.

She quickly snatches the knife from his belt and shoves it into the strap of her sandal on her calf. Without faltering, she takes off again towards the sound of running water. After all, she has plenty of experience with using water as a method of escape. Using the black ribbon tied to her wrist she quickly throws her hair into a loose bun never losing her pace.

As she nears the clearing leading to the river, she catches the sound of footsteps following after her. Without looking back she pushes herself harder knowing that this vampire will be faster than any of her teachers. Relief floods her chest as she leaps into the air over the water but a strong arm wraps around her waist yanking her back. She and her husband tumble to the ground with her ending on top; loose strands of her hair tickle his face. He quickly flips her onto her back pinning her legs open with his hips.

Knowing he now has the advantage, she quickly reaches down and snatches her stolen knife cutting her leg a bit in the process. Calypso forcefully shoves the blade into his side aiming between his ribs. His features briefly shift from pain to shock and settle on anger.

He lets out evil laugh as he yanks the knife from his side,” Oh, princess. You should not have done that.”

The forest around her seems to laugh at her struggle as if it knows she is no match for him. He easily catches both of her hands and presses them into the vegetation above her head while reaching his other hand around her hair and pulling out the bow that was holding the strands up.

“You know, as King, my senses are sharper than any of my subjects. I do not need your hair to be down to replace you,” he leans down to her neck,“So you can waste your time trying to cover your tracks but know this. I will replace you no matter what you do or where you hide. You are mine Calypso Blake and you will obey me.”

“In your dreams, Vampire King,” false confidence seeps into her veins.

He lets out a dark growls and grips her jaw with his free hand,” I am your king, my love.”

Her heart beats faster from deja vu; in an attempt to test her theory she says what she knows comes next,” you are no king of mine.”

He gives her a knowing smirk full of malice,” Now, now is that any way to speak to your husband?”

She gasps and her eyes widen with shock,” No.”

He leans down and presses his tongue to her mark causing her back and lower half to involuntarily arch into him,” Oh yes beautiful Calypso, you cannot escape me even in your sleep. I will always be there lingering in your mind. Now, what did I tell you about your attitude?”

She does not answer not wanting to contribute to his games.

“I told you that your attitude will no longer be tolerated. I will not cause you pain, my queen, unless of course if it causes you pleasure. Do not worry, I will not take all of you tonight. I will not take you fully until you are on your knees begging for me.”

“Bite me, you blood sucking leech,” she’s had enough of him.

His eyes go from gray to black as he smiles,” With pleasure.”

Calypso attempts to pull away to no avail. Her husband leans his head down and bites down on her sensitive mark hard causing a loud moan to slip from her lips. He slowly drinks from her and the result is a sweet sensation that travels from all over her body and ends directly at her core. She desperately grasps at his muscular back for anything to hold onto ignoring how smooth his skin is.

Right when she feels like she can no longer take anymore, he relents and pulls away allowing her to breathe. She did not realize her eyes involuntarily closed until the King grasps her chin with his free hand forcing her to look at him.

Her first thought is beautiful.

Her second is evil.

“I will now take you back to your room. If you are modest I suggest you keep your eyes closed. There is no way of knowing what is happening in these woods,” she remembers the vampire man pinning down the woman in nearly the same position she is in now.

He lifts her bridal style smiling down at her, “Welcome to the Night Kingdom, Calypso Blake.”

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Unedited

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